Category: TCK Gifts
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Lessons I Learned from Living in a Suitcase
A suitcase is a strange teacher. It is a symbol of both freedom and loss, of possibility and impermanence. It reminds me that life is not fixed, that roots are shallow, and that goodbyes are inevitable. Yet through it, God has taught me lessons I might never have learned if my life had been bound…
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What if Being “Behind” Isn’t a Bad Thing?
I’ve often felt “behind” in life. I went to college later than my peers, starting my freshman year at 21 instead of the typical 18. Granted, that was because I had been living and teaching abroad between 18–20 and then working to save up for overseas tuition fees for…
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Don’t Lose Your Compassion
It was a late-night scrolling session. I lazily swiped through people’s stories on social media as the algorithm brought up posts from people living overseas. “I’ve been in Korea for a month now, and I feel so at home. It’s amazing here!” someone wrote. Hmm, I thought. Classic honeymoon stage. Just wait a bit longer…
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Don’t Be Afraid of Missing Your Calling
I was angry with God. Was He trying to ruin my life? How could He be calling my family to mission work, as my parents claimed?
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Why There Is No Such Thing as a “Boring Testimony”
By saying that our testimonies are boring, we are saying that God is writing a boring story! And that is a lie…
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Rain, “No Pasa Nada,” and Thankfulness as an Attitude
My day had started badly. I’d refused to get up when my alarm clock went off. When I finally did crawl out of bed…
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3 Essentials for Long-Distance Dating
I sit down to write this article and glance at my calendar: Twelve more days till we see each other again. Twenty-two more days till we say “I do.” This past year of being 4,500 kilometers away from the man I love has been anything but easy. I never realized the power of physical contact…
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Misunderstood: Use Your Differentness to Love Others Better
“South Africa is really a country?” I resisted the urge to sigh in frustration as I explained once again that yes, South Africa is a country, not a region of Africa. “Wow, I had no idea,” the lady said after I finished. This was just one of many interactions I’ve had with people in my…
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Comfort for the Multilingual: God Speaks the Language of Your Heart
God has spoken to me before in both English and German. I understand better now that it doesn’t matter if I can’t define the language of my heart.
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Silence In Service: 2 Untold Aspects of a Military Kid’s Life
I am devoted to my parents’ country only because my dad was devoted to serving and being faithful in his service. The way we, his kids, behaved was a reflection of Dad.
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What Fireworks Taught Me About the Temporary
I continued to watch and film and take the occasional picture. I wanted to capture the memory, to be able to share it with others precisely how it was, to never forget this moment. But as I did so, I found my mind wandering…
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Cultural Grace: A Cure to Deadly Patriotism
God grants us His grace to not only sustain us and enable us to journey well but for us to also extend that grace to others. Grace lights us up so that we can be the light of the world and share His love with even the most undeserving.
